Lelia Masaga
FullnameLelia Tony Corona Masaga
Birth date30 August 1986 (age 40)
Birth placeWellington, New Zealand
Height183 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight95 kg (209 lb; 14 st 13 lb)
SchoolJames Cook High School
PositionWing
CurrentclubGlasgow Warriors
Years 12005–2009
Clubs 1Counties Manukau
Apps 150
Points 1130
Years 22006–2013
Clubs 2Chiefs
Apps 291
Points 2190
Years 32010–2012
Clubs 3Bay of Plenty
Apps 330
Points 390
Years 42016–2017
Clubs 4Honda Heat
Apps 411
Points 410
Years 52017–
Clubs 5Glasgow Warriors
Apps 58
Points 55
Years 62018–2019
Clubs 6Glasgow Hawks
Apps 67
Points 620
Repyears 12006–2007
Repteam 1New Zealand U21
Repcaps 16
Reppoints 135
Repyears 22009
Repteam 2New Zealand
Repcaps 21
Reppoints 20
Clubupdate19 January 2019
Repupdate19 January 2019

Lelia Tony Corona Masaga (born 30 August 1986) is a New Zealand international retired rugby union player. He last played professionally for Glasgow Warriors. Masaga played on Wing.

Rugby Union career

Amateur career

Masaga was drafted to Marr in the Scottish Premiership for the 2017–18 season.[1]

Masaga has been drafted to Glasgow Hawks in the Scottish Premiership for the 2018–19 season.[2]

Professional career

Masaga played for the Chiefs in New Zealand.

After the 2013 Super Rugby season, he moved to play rugby in Japan.[3]

On 12 May 2017 Glasgow Warriors confirmed a 2-year signing of Masaga beginning for the 2017-18 season.

Masaga played his first match for the Warriors on 25 August 2017 coming on as a substitute against Dragons in a 40–23 away win.[4]

International career

Masaga was selected for the New Zealand U21 side for the 2006 Under 21 Rugby World Cup in France. Masaga was the top try scorer in the tournament with 7 tries.

The NZRU's controversial decision to 'recondition' established All Black test players including Chiefs anchors Sitiveni Sivivatu and Mils Muliaina allowed Masaga to cement his position in the side. Despite early losses in the 2007 season, coaches Ian Foster and Warren Gatland showed patience and trust in the young winger who has performed remarkably well, co-leading the tournament as top try scorer with 8 tries going into the last round. He was included in the All Blacks squad for the 2009 Iveco Series to cover for injuries when he earned his first test cap against Italy on 27 June 2009.[citation needed]

References

  1. ^ "News". Archived from the original on 30 August 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  2. ^ "Tennent's Premiership clubs decide pro-player draft | Scottish Rugby Union". Archived from the original on 2 September 2018. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  3. ^ Rugby Heaven. New Zealand: Fairfax. 26 March 2013. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
  4. ^ "Dragons Rugby v Glasgow Warriors". Archived from the original on 25 August 2017. Retrieved 25 August 2017.